John Bonham – Big Drum Thump

John Bonham Endorsement Contract With Paiste

BDT — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 21:37:00 +0000

This is a very cool bit of drum history. Have a gander at the original contract that John Bonham signed with Paiste 50 years ago today.

The first page says that Bonham agrees to allow Paiste to use his name in advertising and marketing. Bonham’s signature is at the bottom of the document.

The second page lists all the cymbals that Bonham received from Paiste. A whole lot of duplicate sets here, probably for different kits housed around the world as Zep was touring.

Bonzo got 15″ Sound Edge hi-hats, 18″ and 20″ Giant Beats, mammoth 24″ Giant Beats, a sprinkling of 2002s, a 38″ gong….and a solitary and clearly overworked 24″ cymbal bag. It looks like everything but the gong was free.

John Bonham Memorial Statue

BDT — Fri, 01 Jun 2018 00:11:00 +0000

Bonham would have been 70 this year. To commemorate the birth of the gloriously-phat-footed one, a giant bronze statue has been erected in his hometown of Redditch, Worcestershire, in the UK. Cash for the statue was actually raised by Bonzo fans, so that makes it even better. Hopefully there shall be yearly pilgrimages. Who’s in?

Get Your John Bonham Fix…

BDT — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 04:45:43 +0000

at the official Led Zeppelin YouTube channel. The band (or rather its management minions) have uploaded a buttload of bootleg and rare videos, including some shot on spectacularly grainy 8mm. Start off with this performance of “Achilles Last Stand” from a concert in L.A. in 1977.

[via Music Radar]

John Bonham Outtakes

BDT — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 06:13:18 +0000

We don’t know where the bloody hell these Bonham outtakes came from or how this guy got his hands on them, but download all 23 while you can. They are from Zep’s In Through the Out Door sessions. Also check out the cool Bonham-related links, especially the list of cymbals he received from Paiste.